Nation: SALT's Price

Fireworks had been expected in the Senate's SALT II hearings as they
shifted last week from the generally sympathetic Foreign Relations
Committee to the Armed Services Committee. Not only is the Armed
Services panel more familiar with the weaponry covered by SALT, but
also a number of committee members have been outspoken critics of the
accord. Yet the treaty had smooth sailing last week, except for
occasional heated exchanges sparked by Senator Henry ("Scoop") Jackson,
the powerful Democrat from the state of Washington, who is a leading
SALT foe.